Refrigeration



y 1944- A. R. fHQMAs 2,353,859

REFRIGERATION Filed April 29, 1941 I OR.

MATToRNEY Patented July 18, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT mm- Albert R. Thomas,' Evans.ville, Ind., assignor to Servel, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application April 29, 1941, Serial No. 390,871.

'10 Claims. (01. 62--119) This invention relates to refrigeration, and more particularly to transferring of non-condensible gases in a refrigeration system from one part to another part from which the non-condensible gases are withdrawn. v

During-operation of refrigeration systems noncondensible gases may collect in parts thereof to produce objectionable increase in pressure. This is particularly true in refrigeration systems of the absorption type which operate at partial vacuum and at extremely low pressures. When non-condensible gases collect in the absorber of such a system a part of the absorber, in which absorptiom of refrigerant vapor by absorption liquid normally takes place,'is rendered ineffective. The collection of non-condensible gases efvfects an increase in pressure in a refrigeration system to lower the efficiency of the system, and this is particularly undesirable in low pressure systems in which the collection of certain amounts of non-condensible gases effects a utilizing a water aspirator type of vacuum pump to withdraw non-condensible gases from the condenser to the atmosphere, and to utilize the cooling water that effects cooling of the condenser and other heat rejecting parts to operate such aspirator. The invention, together with the above and other objects and advantages thereof, will be better understood-from thefollowing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, and of which the single figure more or less diagrammatically illustrates a refrigeration system embodying the invention.

Referring to the figure, the present invention is embodied in a two-pressure absorption refrigeration system like that described in application.

greater percentage increase in pressure than in higher pressure systems using a refrigerant like ammonia,'for example.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improvement for transferring non-'condensible gases in a refrigeration system from one part to another part thereof withthe aid of an active fluid within the system, the transfer of gases being effected automatically and continuously to insure complete withdrawal of the gases from the first part at all times. More particularly, the present invention provides an im roved arrangement for transferring. non-condensible gases in an absorption refrigeration system from the absorber to the condenser or other part thereof, so

that the absorber will always be capable of functionll'lg as efllciently as possible. The transfer of non-condensible gases from the absorber is effected by the stream of absorption liquid flowing from the absorber to the generator. The noncondensible gases are entrained in a part of the absorption liquid circuit in such a manner that entrainment is effected continuously and automatically by simple gravity flow of the absoption liquid. The trapped gas is compressed in the downwardly flowing column of absorption liquid and flows therefrom at a higher pressure to the I condenser.

. It is another object of the invention to provide-an improved arrangement for withdrawing non-condensible, gases from the condenser of the refrigeration system at which part heat is.

given up to a suitable cooling medium, such as water, for example. This is accomplished by Serial No. 239,762 of A. R. Thomas and P. P. Anderson, Jr., filed November 10,1938, now Patent No. 2,282,503 granted May 12, 1942. A system of this type operates at low pressures and includes a generator or vapor exp'eller ill, a condenser ll, an evaporator l2, and an absorber I4 which are interconnected in such a manner that the pressure differential in'the system 'is maintained by liquid columns. d v

The disclosure in the aforementioned Thomas and Anderson application may be considered as being incorporated in this application, and, if desired, reference may be had thereto for a detailed description of the refrigeration system. In the figure the generator Ill includes ,an outer shell I5 within which are disposed a plurality of vertical riser tubes l6 having the lower ends thereof communicating with a space H and the upper ends thereof extending into and above the bottom of a vessel I 8. The space l9 within shell l5 forms a steamchamber about the tubes 16 to which steam is supplied through a conduit 20. The space l9 provides for full length heating of tubes IS, a vent 2l-being formed at the upper end of shell IS. A conduit 22 is. connected to the lower part of shell l5 for draining condensate from space I 9.

The system operates at a partial vacuum and contains a water solution of refrigerant in absorbent liquid, such' as, for example, a water solution of about 40% lithium chloride by weight. -With steam being s pplied through conduit 20 to space l9 at atmospheric pressure, heat is applied to tubes l6 whereby water vapor isexpelled from solutibn. The absorption lfquid is raised by gas or vapor-lift action with the expelled water vapor forming 'a' central co Fe\within an upwardly rising annulus of the liquid. The expelled water through a conduit 32.

vaporrises more rapidly than the liquid with the liquid following along the inside walls of tubes IS.

The water .vapor flows upwardly through the tubes or risers l6 into vessel l8 which serves as a vapor separator. Due to bathing in vessel l8,

. water vapor is separated from raised absorption solution and flows through conduit 23 into condens II. The condensate formed incondenser ll flows through a U-tube 24 into a flash chamber 25and from the latter through a conduit 26 intoevaporator l2.

g The evaporator l2 includes a plurality of horizontal banks of tubes 21 disposed one above the other and to which are secured heat transfer fins 28 to provide a relatively extensive heat transfer surface. The liquid flowing to evaporator l2 isdivided in any suitable manner for flow through the uppermost banks of tubes 21. The dividing of liquid may be efiected by providing a liquid distributing trough 29 into which the liquid flows through the conduit 23. The water passes through successively lower banks of tubes through suitable end connections which are open to permit escape of vapor from the tubes, and any excess liquid is discharged from the lowermost bank of tubes 21. g

The water supplied to tubes 21 evaporates therein 'to produce a refrigerating or cooling effect with consequent absorption of heat from the surroundings, as from a stream of air flowing' over the exterior surfaces of the tubes 21 and.

fins 28. The vapor formed in tubes 28 passes out into end headers 30 which are connected at their lower ends to absorber l4. The flash chamber 25 is provided to. take care of any vapor flashing of liquid being fed to evaporator l2 through U-tube 24. The flashed vapor formed in the initial cooling of the liquid flowing from condenser ll passes through a conduit 3| into one of the headers 30 and mixes with vapor formed in the evaporator l2, so that disturbances in the evaporator due to vapor flashing are avoided.

In absorber l4 refrigerant vapor is absorbed into concentrated absorption liquid which enters The entering absorption liquid flows into a vessel 33 in which liquid is distributed laterally or cross-wise of a pluralit of vertically disposed pipe banks 34 which are arranged along side of each other. The liquid flows from vessel 33 through conduits 35 into a plurality of liquid holdersand distributors 36 which extend lengthwise of and above the uppermost horizontal branches of pipe banks 34.

.Absorption liquid is siphoned over the walls of the liquid holders 36 to effect complete wetting of the uppermost pipe sections. Liquid drips from each horizontal pipe section onto the next lower pipe section, whereby'all of the pipe sections are wetted with a film of liquid.

The water vaporqformed in evaporator l2 passes through the headers 30 into the absorber l4 where it is absorbed by the absorption liquid and, due to such absorption of water vapor, the absorption liquid is diluted. The diluted absorption liq, uid flows through a conduit 31 into a vessel 3 as will be described more fullyhereinaiter. From vessel 38 liquid flowsthrough a conduit 39 into a first passage in liquid heat exchanger 40; conduit 4|, vessel 42 and conduit 43 into the lower space I! of generator Ill. Water vapor is expelled out of solution in generator III by heating, and the solution is raised by gas or vapor,

lift action in riser tubes l3. as explained above.

trated since water vapor has been expelled therefrom in generator I. This concentrated absorption liquid flows through a conduit. v44, a'second passage in liquid heat .exchanger 40, and con- .duit 32 into the upper part of absorber l4. This circulation or absorption liquid results from the raising of liquid by vapor-lift action in vertical riser tubes l6, whereby the liquid can flow to absorber l4 and return from the latter to the generator ID by force of gravity.

The upper partof vessel 42 is connected by a conduit 45 to condenser ll, so that the pressure in vessel 42 is equalized'with the pressure in the upper part of generator l3 and condenser II.

The heat liberatedwith absorption of water vapor in absorber I4 is transferred to a cooling medium, such as water, for example, which flows upward through the vertically disposed pipe banks 34. The cooling medium enters the lower ends of the pipe banks 34 through a conduit 46 and leaves the upper 'ends of the, pipe banks 34 through alconduit 41: The conduit 41 is connected to condenser ll whereby the same cooling medium may be utilized to cool both condenser II and absorber l4, and from condenser II the cooling medium flows through a conduit 48 to waste.

The system operates at low pressures with the generator l0 and condenser H operating at one pressure and the evaporator l2 and absorber I4 operating at a lower pressure, the pressure differential therebetween being maintained by liquid I columns. Thus. the liquid column formed in tube 24 maintains the pressure difierential between condenser ll and evaporator l2, the liquid column in conduit '31, vessel 38 and conduit 39 maintains the pressure diiierential between the outlet of absorber I4 and generator l3, and the liquid column formed in conduit 32 and connected parts including conduit 44 maintains the pressure differential between the inlet of the absorber and the upper part of generator III. In operation, the liquid columns may form in conduits 3'1, 44 and down-leg of tube 24 to the levels 1:, y and z, for example. The conduits are of such size that restriction to gas flow is effected without appreciably restricting flow of liquid.

The liquid column formed in vessel 42 and conduit 43 provides the liquid reaction head for raising liquid in riser tubes I3 by vapor-lift ac-' tion. The vessel 42 is of sufficlent volume'to hold the liquid difierential in the. system and is of such cross-sectional area that the liquid'level therein does not appreciably vary, so that a substantially constant reaction head is provided for lifting liquidingenerator l0. 4 f Duringoperation of the refrigeration system non-condensible gases may collect therein. Due to the high velocity of the water vapor entering absorber l4 from evaporator l2, the non-condensible gases in the lower pressure side of the system are swept by the water vapor toward the bottom part of the absorber.

In accordance with this invention, in order to transfer the non-condensible gases from the absorber l4 to the condenser II, the outlet for the 'a-' sorption liquid leaving absorber 14 at the upper end of conduit 31 is constructed and arranged so that non-condensible gases are injected or trapped into the downwardly flowing column of absorption liquid. By way o1'- illustration, this is accomplished in the preferred embodiment shown byproviding a tube 43 which is supported at 33 at the bottom of absorber l4 with the lower end thereof extending downwardly into'c onduit 31 and terminatingabove the liquid 'leveltin the absorption liquid is flowing toward generator l0,

and that the gases are entrained in such-a mani ass-asst 7 pressure is delivered througha conduit 56.

her that removal'of the gases from the absorber is effected continuously and automatically by simple gravity flow of the absorption liquid.

The conduits embodied in the refrigeration system are of such size that there is no appreciable restriction to flow oiliquid, as explained above. The internal diameter of conduit 31 is 'sufiiciently great so that the trapped gas bubbles do not completely bridge the liquid passage formed by the conduit, that is, the liquid can pass the gas bubbles and carry the bubbles-downward in the conduit. As the trapped gasbubbles are carried downward by liquid, the gas is compressed due to the increasingly larger liquid head above the as.

The gas bubbles escape from the lower end of conduit 31 which extends into the bottom part .of vessel 38. The vessel 38 serves as a gas relief chamber with the compressed gas bubbles passing upward through the liquid therein. The liquid column maintained in conduit 31 is of 511mcient length to maintain the pressure diiferential between absorber and the parts of thehigher pressure side of the system to which the vessel 38 is connected. The absorption liquid flows from vessel 38 through conduit 39 toward generator [0, as explained above, and the escaping non-condensible gases pass from the upper part ofyessel 38 through conduit 5| into vessel 42, and thence through conduit 45 into the condenser II.

The non-condensible gases collecting in condenser Il, together with the gases transferred from the absorber l4, are carried to the dead or far end of condenser H in the bottom part thereof by the sweeping effect of the expelled water vapor flowing into the condenser. Since the condenser l I is at a higher pressure than the absorber H, the non-condensible gases transferred from the low pressure. side to thehigher, pressure side of the refrigerationsystem willoccupy considerably less space in the condenser than in the absorber. ,In a refrigeration system of the character described above, for-example, the normal operating pressure in'the absorber may be about 7 mm. mercury and the pressure in the condenser more, than eight times the absorber pressure or above 56 mm. mercury. By continuously and constantly removing non-condensible gases from absorber II as it collects in a the low pressure side of the system, absorption of refrigerant vapor by. absorption liquid can al v ways take place within the entire absorber. In other words, the fact that only a relatively small quantity of non-condensible gases can accumulate and collect in the bottom part of the a'b-j sorber, no part of .the absorber in which absorp- A tion of refrigerant vapor by,liquid-normally takes place is rendered'inefi'ective:

A simple water aspirator type of vacuum pump 52 is connected by conduit 53 to th lower part of condenser II to effect'removal of non-condensible gases from the refrigeration system. The

conduit 53 is provided with a suitable control valve 54 and is connected to the converging side of the Venturitube forming the vacuum pump 52. A nozzle 55 is disposed within vacuum pump 52 at the region at which conduit 53 is connected to the pump and to which water under suitable The conduit 56 is connected to the conduit 46 through which cooling water is supplied to the I absorber H and condenser I 1, whereby the cooling medium that effects cooling of the heat rejecting parts of the refrigeration system is utilized to operate the aspirator. Asuitable control valve 51 is provided in conduit 55 to control operation,

of the vacuum pump; 7

.When it is desired toeifect removal of non-8 condensible gases from the refrigeration system;'

the valve 51 isopened so:,that water will be supplied to nozzle 55 of the vacuum pump 52. The water passing through the nozzle 55 acquires a high velocity whereby a suction effectis produced. After the vacuum pump '52 is operatingthe valve 54 is opened,whereby the suction efiect produced by the pump exhausts the non-condensible gases from the lower part of condenser H and discharges the'gases to atmosphere;

After substantially all of, the non-condensible gases have been removed from. the refrigeration system, as may be determined by a suitable pressure indicating device, for example, the valve 54' is first closed to shut ofi the system from the atmosphere and thereafter the valve 51 is closed to shut the supply of water to the vacuum pump 52. In a refrigeration system in which the normal pressure existing in'the condenser l l is about 56 mm. mercury, a water aspirator type of vacuum pump can be satisfactorily employed in exhausting non-condensible gases from the system to the atmosphere with the aspirator being ope'rated from a suitable source of water supply at a pressure of at least 30 pounds per square inch. A water aspirate-r vacuum pump is a relatively inexpensive type of "vacuum pump. which can be satisfactorily operated to exhaust non-condens'ible gases from the higher pressure side' of a refrigeration system operating at a pressure fications and changes may be made without departing from-the spirit and scope of the inven-- tion, as pointed out in-the following claims. What is claimed is: j 1. A multi-pressure refrigeration ,system in- .cluding an absorber, a generator having a memher for raising liquid byvapor-lift action, a vartically extending conduit" having the upper end thereof-in communication'with said absorber and connected toireceive liquid raised by vapor-lift action, in 'said generator, meansmroviding a chamberinto the lower part of which said con- -duit extends means-connecting the upper part.- of said chamber. for communication with the in said conduit by the tioned parts i of refrigerant and absorption liquid, structure tion liquid into contact gas collecting in the absorber, said structure befable at on ments operable at a lower pressure with means for maintaining the pressure differential between the groups of elements, one portion of the system sorption liquid at its upper end from rating chamber to an sure group whereby upper part of said generator, a connection for conducting liquid from the lower part of'said chamber to the lower-part of said generator, the

upper part of said conduit being formed and arranged so that absorption liquid introducedtherein is' capable of positively trapping non-,

whereby ,the trapped gas is carried downward liquid and discharged at a higher pressure from into the chamber.

2. An absorption refrigeration system including a generator inwhich vapor is expelled from solution and the solution is raised by vapor -llft action, a condenser in which the expelled liquid is condensed, an evaporator in which the condensate evaporates, an absorber in which the vapor formed in the evaporator is absorbed into absorption solution, means providing a chamber, conduit means connecting the upper part of s'aidchamber and the condenser, a vertical conduit extending into said chamber, the upper end the lower end thereof condensible gas collecting in said absorber, t

will be transferred from an element of the low pressure group'to an element of the. high pressure group while maintaining the pressure ,differential between the groups of elements.

5. In an absorption refrigeration system hav-. ing a plurality of elements interconnected for circulation of refrigerant and absorption liquid, said system having one group of elements operable at one pressure and another group of elements operable at a lower pressure with means for maintaining the pressure differential between the groups of elements, a fall tube pump embodied in the system for transferring non-condensible gases from an element of the low pressure group to an element of the high pressure group, said fall tube pump comprising a vertically extending conduit connected of said conduit being in communication with said absorber and connected to receive absorption solution raised by vapor-lift action in said generator, and said conduit being formed and arranged so that absorption solution traps nonat its upper end to an element of the low pressure group to receive absorption liquid therefrom, an injector tube, cooperating with the upper end of the conduit to positively withdraw non-condensible gases from the element and trap the gases in the absorption liquid flowing through theconduit, a separating'chamber into which the lower. end of the conduit extends, said "absorption liquid in. the conduit comprising a part of the means maintaining the pressure difcondensible gas and carries such gas downwardly in said conduit, the gas being compressed during 1 downward movement in the conduit and dls-,

charged from the lower end thereof into the upper part of the said chamber for flow through said conduit means to the condenser.

3. A two-pressure absorption l refrigeration -system comprising a generator and a condenser v.fere'ntial between the high and low pressure groups of elements, andmeans connecting the separating chamber to an element of the high pressure groupwhereby the non-condensible gases will be transferredfrom an element of the low pressure group to an element of the high arranged to operate at one pressure and an evaporator and an absorber arranged to operate at a lower pressure, connections for the aforemento provide circuitsfor circulation embodied in the system for circulating absorpwith non-condensible the water aspirator type for. removing non condensible gas from the condenser.

pressure group while maintaining the pressure differential therebetween.

6. An absorption refrigeration system in which non -condensible gases may occur and having a generator and condenser operable at one pressure and an evaporator and absorber operable.

at a lower pressure, a vertically extending conduit having the upper end thereof in communication with-said absorber and connected to receive absorption liquid therefrom, a vessel into which the lower end of the conduit extends, means connecting the upper part ofthe vessel with the condenser, means connecting the lower part'of the vessel with the. generator, and means.

' cooperating with the upper endof the conduit ,4. In an absorption refrigeration system having a plurality of elements interconnected for having one group of elements operpressure and another 'group of elesaid syste circulatina refrigerant and absorption liquid,

of interconnected elements comprising a vertically extending conduit connected to .receive abone of the elements .of the low pressure group, a separat ing ch'amber into which the lower end of the conduit extends, means cooperating with the upper ,end of the conduit flora-positively withdrawing non-oondensible gases from an element of the low pressure group and trapping the gases in the liquid flowing through theconduit to transfer the gases to theseparating chamber, said absorption liquid in-the condui't comprising'a part of the means maintaining-thepressure differentiall'between the high of elements, and means for connecting the sepaelement of the high pressthe non-condensible, gases and low pressure groups for positively withdrawing non-condensible gases fromthe absorber and trapping the gases in the liquid to transfer them to the vessel whereby the non-condensible gases will flow into the condenser while the absorption liquid will flow to the generator.

'Lln an absorption refrigeration system hav. ing a plurality of elements interconnected for circulation of refrigerant and absorption liquid, said system having one group of elements operable at one pressure and another group of elements operable at a lower' pressure with means for maintaining the pressure differential between the groups of elements, a fall tube pump embodied in the system for withdrawing non-condensible gases from an element thereof, said fall tube pump comprising a vertically extending conduit connected at its upper end to the element from which the gases are to be withdrawn to receive liquid therefrom, an injector tube arranged concentrically in the upper end of the conduit and extending" upwardly above-the end of the conduit, the flow or liquid airmen the conduit and around the injector tube positively withdrawliquid, said liquid in the conduit comprising a part of the means maintaining the pressure differential between the high and low pressure groups of elements and a separating chamber into which the lower: end of the conduit extends for separating the gases from the liquid.-

8. In an absorption refrigeration system having a plurality of elements interconnected for circulation of refrigerant and absorption liquid, said system having one group of elements operable at one pressure and another group of elements operable at a lower pressure with means for maintaining the pressure diiferential between the groups of elements, one portion 'ofthe system of interconnected elements comprising a vertically e tending conduit connected to receive absorptiom iquid at its upper end from one of;

the upper part of the separating chamber to the I condenser,v means connecting thelower part of the separating chamber to the base of the genthe elements of the low pressure group, a separating chamber into which the lower end of the conduit extends, means cooperating with the upper end of the conduit for positively withdrawing non-condensible gases from the element and trapping the gases in the liquid to transfer them to. the separating chamber, said absorption liquid in the conduit comprising a p rt of the means maintaining the pressure differential between the high and low pressure groups of elements, means connecting the separating. chamber to an element of the high pressure group whereby the. nonj-condensible gases will be transferred from an element of the low pressure "group to an element of the high pressure group while maintainingthe pressure diiferential between the groupsv of elements, and an exhaust pump connected to the element of the high pressure group to which the ases are transferred for exhausting the non-' condensible gases to the atmosphere. r

9. In an absorption refrigeration system in which non-condensible gases may occur and hav ing a generator and condenser operable at one pressure and an evaporator and absorber operable at a lower pressure; said non-condensible gases in the generator being swept into the condenser by'the refrigerant vapors where thereocumulate adjacent the outlet therefrom and saiderator, said non-condensible gases flowing from the upper part of the separating chamber to the condenser through one conduit andsaid absorption liquid flowing from the lower part of the separating chamber to the generator through the other conduit, and an exhaust pump connected to the condenser for exhausting the non-condensible gases from all of the elements of the system to the atmosphere.

10. In an absorption refrigeration system in which non-condensible gases may occur and having a generator and condenser operable at one pressure and an evaporator and absorber oper-.

able at a lower pressure, a vertically extending conduit having the upper end thereof in communication with the absorber and connected to receive absorption liquid therefrom, a separating chamber into which the lower end of the conduit extends. an injector tube arranged concentrically in the upper end of the conduit and operable by the flow of absorption liquid through the conduit for withdrawing non-condensible gases from the absorber and entraining the gases in the a sorption liquid, means connecting the upper part of the separating chamber with the condenser, means connecting the lower part of the separating chamber 'to the base of the generator, said non-condensible gases flowing from the-upper part of the separating chamber to the condenser gases in the evaporator :being swept into the absorber by the refrigerant vapors where they and said absorption liquid flowing from the lower part of the separating chamber to the generator, and an exhaust pump connected to the condenser for exhausting the non-condensible gases to the atmosphere. ALBERT R. THOMAS. 

